International buyers, manufacturers and exhibitors at Project Qatar took time to visit Mall of Qatar, the country’s largest mall under construction with a total built-up area of more than 500,000 sq m.

Project Qatar 2015, the annual international construction technology and building materials exhibition, was held last week at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) in Doha, Qatar.

Dubbed the Mall of the Future due to its state-of-the-art design, the Qatari retail development is a destination in its own right set to draw visitors through a unique entertainment programme of daily showbiz performances and mall-wide performers, said a senior mall official.

The visitors toured the site and viewed the massive 25-m-high domed Centre Oasis, which will house the world's first 360-degree professional theatre in a mall with a vast rotating stage and rigging system able to support 20 tonnes of equipment.

They also viewed the 4,200-sq-m entertainment area, which will have more than 80 food and beverage outlets on three floors and feature dancing fountains and giant tree sculptures.  

The tour also included a look at the site of the five-star luxury fashion hotel, from the new Curio Collection by Hilton brand, connected to the Luxury Court, an exclusive area for high fashion, designer goods and signature restaurants.

Visitors were then shown where the 16,500-sq-m family entertainment centre and 19-screen cinema complex will be located with the world’s largest Imax 3D laser projection system and six VIP screens offering in-theatre dining.

Thomas Pfeifle, the CEO of J Schmalz’s vacuum handling systems based in Germany, said: "The mall is very impressive and a huge project. We manufacture large vacuum handling systems for glass, wood, metal and stone for construction development, but I have never seen such a large project as this one in Qatar."

Linda Barrina from Ideal Legno, an Italian company manufacturing wooden floorings for commercial use, said: "Qatar is an emerging country, growing every day and it’s incredible what they’re doing here. The quality and design of the Mall of Qatar project is evident throughout the site, it’s very fashionable and modern and its size and scale are amazing."

Valadmiro Monteiro, the CEO of Luzarq, a lighting design company for shopping malls in Portugal and Angola, said: “This has to be the top benchmark for malls today. It’s very impressive, its size and the organisation behind it, just perfect. The way it has been built to let natural light flood in is very ecological and addresses a top concern when building malls like this.”

Luigi Scaffidi, the general manager of Plastitalia, a leading producer of polyethylene fittings based in Italy, described it as the best building site and mall he has ever seen. "It’s very impressive. I liked the whole concept and the innovative design.”

Giada Battistello, the sales manager of Italy-based Newfloor, which produces commercial flooring, said: "It’s very interesting and so big, there is nothing like it in Italy."

"We really want to visit it when it is finished. The design is so great, the architects really thought it out well and understood perfectly what it takes to make a big impact on shoppers," he stated.

Dhanya Gangitano, the general manager of Italy-based Diasen, a key provider of solutions for thermal and acoustic insulation, waterproofing and refurbishment of surfaces, said: "The mall is very impressive, particularly for it to be built in so short a time. It was interesting to understand the landlord-tenant relationship and see how successful it has been, with 82 per cent already leased."

Dinesh Tripathi, the director of NSD Glass based in India, which produces glass facades and complete external building skins, said: "It is really great, a completely new experience. I was especially impressed with the planning and scope of work - with a little more effort maybe it could have been the biggest mall in the world!"

Project Qatar attracts key international buyers and industry leaders looking for the most up-to-date technology and state-of-the art equipment available on the market.-TradeArabia News Service